Humidifying device



Aus. 6, 1957 .1.5. Loma/mn 2,801,892

HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /8/1 NI@ 26A gzf 1|;1 7 20A 28A Jose S Lomaw INVENTOR Aug. 6, 1957 J. s. LOMBARD 2,801,892

HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Filed June 2', 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l MB 30B :126B

INVENTQR 32B 20B Jose S. amaai-@z United States Patent C HUMlDIFYING DEVICE Jos S. Lombard, New York, N. Y. Application .lune 2, 1954, Serial No. 434,053

1 Claim. (Cl. S12- 31) This invention relates to non-spill liquid reservoirs particularly adapted for use in tobacco humidors for storing cigarettes, cigars, and the like in a moist atmosphere, and which may be adapted for other uses if desired.

The invention provides a humidor in which vapor is supplied vcontinuously from a non-spill reservoir that is especially simple in construction and low in cost. The simplied construction results in a reservoir that is easy to till but which does not permit the escape of liquid from the reservoir into the tobacco chamber even though the humidor is accidentally turned upside down.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention are in part pointed -out in and will in part be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a humidor embodying the invention, the cover being removed to show the interior of the humidor; A

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the humectant reservoir, taken yapproximately along the `line `2-2 of Figure 1; t

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the filler and breather plug of the reservoir of Figure 1 in position for the reservoir to be filled;

Figure 4 is a perspective viewshowing `the two parts of the plug of Figure 3 separated from each other;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional View of a ller and breather plug `of modified construction;

Figure 7 shows the same plugin position for lling; Figure 8 shows a modified form of the invention with the reservoir mounted between the spaced walls of the humidor; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view lines 9-9 of Figure 8.

As best shown in Figure l, the humidor includes a lower container portion 2 anda cover 4. The lower portion 2 of this container may be of double-wall construction in order to minimize temperature variations within the container. The cover is arranged to provide a substantially airtight seal of the inner chamber but can be readily placed on and removed from the lower container. To this end the portion 2 of the container is provided with an annular curved portion 6 just below which is positioned an O ring seal 7 that extends around the outside of the container and forms au air-tight seal with the inner surface of the cover 4. The cover 4 preferably is weighted so that a good seal is assured without any necessity for pressing the cover down tightly onto the lower portion 2.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the tobaccoreceiving chamber 8 within the humidor is divided into a number of rectangular cigarette-receiving compartments 9, each of which in the present embodiment is adapted to hold sixteen cigarettes, by `a number of vertical partitions 10. Around the outside of the nine cigarette-receiving compartments are a number of partially-formed compartments which may also receive cigarettes.

of the reservoir taken along t 2,801,892 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 ICC The partition 10 and thelower portion 2 of the humidor are shorter than the cigarettes so that the `cigarettes are easily grasped even when the humidor is full. t

A reservoir, generally indicated at 12, is positioned in the center compartment formed by the partitions 10 `and is preferably rectangular in shape and of such dimensions that it is held in position by friction, or other means, and so that additional cigarettes may be positioned along each side of it, as illustrated in Figure l.

The details of the reservoir 12 are best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. A water-receiving chamber 14 of rectangular cross-section is formed of plastic or other suitable material. A breather plug, generally indicated at 16, is positioned in an opening in the upper end of the water-receiving chamber 14 and is arranged to permit the chamber 14 to be `filled conveniently and to permit the evaporation of water Afrom the chamber 14 into the interior of the humidor. t This plug 16 consists of an outer shell 18 which is closed at its lower end, as is indicated -at 20, and which is provided with an external collar 22 near its upper end. An annular ilange 24 is formed integrally with this collar 22 and extends outwardly therefrom. The collar 22 fits snugly within the opening in the top of the Water-receiving chamber 14 with the lower surface of the flange .24 abutting the outer surface of the chamber 14.

A sleeve 26 is positioned within the shell 18` and is provided at its upper end with an annular knob 28 having a central opening 29 extending into the interior of the sleeve 26. Both the shell 1S and the sleeve 26 preferably are formed of plastic material, but other materials may be used if desired.

In order to permit evaporation of the water from the interior of the chamber 14 into the interior of the humidor, an opening 30 is provided near the lower end of the sleeve 26 and an opening 32 is provided near the lower end of the shell 18. When these two openings are positioned in alignment, as illustrated in Figure 2, the watervapor may pass from the chamber 14 through the openings 30 and 32 upwardly through the interior of the sleeve 26, and out of the opening 29, as indicated by the arrows 34, into the tobacco-receiving chamber. t

In the event the chamber 14 is accidentally inverted, water will not flow through the openings 30 and 32 into the tobacco-receiving chamber because there is no opening to permit air to enter the chamber 14 to replace the water. However, the chamber 14 cannot be refilled with water through the opening 29 in the condition shown in Figure 2 because no other opening is provided which would allow the escape of air from within the container 14.

In order to ll the container, the sleeve 26 is moved upwardly within the shell 18 by means of the knob 28. This position is illustrated in Figure 3. t

It will be noted in Figures 2 and 3 that an opening 36 extends vertically through the collar 22. When the sleeve 26 is positioned 4all the way within the shell 18, as shown in Figure 2, the under-surface of the annular knob 28 abuts the outer surface of the shoulder 22 and thus provides a seal for the opening 36. However, when the knob 28 is lifted upwardly to the position shown in` Figure 3 the opening 36 is provided between the upper portion of the water-receiving chamber 14 and the outside atmosphere. Thus when water is poured in through the opening 29, it runs through the sleeve 26 into the lower portion of the shell 18 and through the opening 32 into the surface of the sleeve 26 and the inner surface of the shell 18 an O ring seal 38 is positioned within an annular groove in the outer surface of the sleeve 26.

To prevent foreign material from accidentally entering the reservoir chamber 14, a circular screen 42 is positioned across .the 'interior .of the sleeve 26 and is supported by an annular liange 40 on the inner surface of the sleeve 26. This flange is formed conveniently by an annular indentation in the sleeve 26 which forms the groove for the sealing ring 38.

To permit control of the rate of evaporation of the liquid within the water-receiving container 14, the sleeve 26 may be rotated relative to the shell 13, by means of the knob 28, so that the openings 30 and 32 are in any desired degree of alignment. Thus the evaporation opening may be partially or completely closed. This is illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 5.

Another form of filler and breather plug is shown in Figures 6 and 7 in which similar parts are given the same numbers `as in the earlier views followed by the suffix A. This plug in function and operation is the same as that shown in Figure 3 but provides a more positive seal. A shell 18A is closed at the bottom end 20A. A collar 22A formed integrally with the shell 18A has an annular flange 24A that engages the upper surface of the reservoir 14A. The inner sleeve 26A is positioned within the shell 18A and is provided with an O ring seal 38A and a knob portion 28A. Openings through the shell 18A and sleeve 26A near the lower end permit the reservoir to be filled and moisture to evaporate from the reservoir.

vTo this point, the construction is generally similar to that of the plug described in Figure 3, however the air vent and sealing arrangement have been modified. An opening 36A extends upwardly from the bottom surface of the collar 22A tand opens into the interior of the shell 18A. The inner surface of the shell 18A near the upper end has an annular channel 46 which receives a collar 48 Vof enlarged diameter on the sleeve 26A just below the knob 28A. When the sleeve 26A is pushed all the way into the shell 18A as shown in Figure 6, the collar 48 covers and seals the opening 36A so that no liquid can escape ,as described above. Even when the knob 28A is lifted upwardly, the opening 36A remains sealed until .the collar 48 is completely free of the shell 18A. The

air within the reservoir 14 can then pass out through the opening 36A and the space formed by the channel 46 as indicated by the arrows 50 in Figure 7.

. In the embodiment as shown in Figures 8 and 9 the general construction of the humidor base 2 `and cover 4 is similar to that described in connection with Figure l of the dnawing, except that in this instance the reservoir 12B is positioned between the inner 'and outer walls of the lower portion 2 of the reservoir.

The reservoir 12B is similar to the reservoir 12 described in connection with Figures 6 and 7 and the corresponding parts have been given similar numerals followed by the suffix 13. A circular opening is provided in the upper rim or edge portion of the lower container portion 2 just above the curved portion 6 of the container wall. This opening is such that the reservoir 12B may be easily placed in or removed from this opening with the shoulder 24B extending beyond the edges of the hole to support the reservoir 12B.

As :can be seen readily from Figure 8, the construction of the cover 4 with its substantially vertical side portions is such as to permit adequate circulation of the air between the upper end of the reservoir 12B and the interior of the humidor where the tobacco is kept. With this arrangement all of the interior space in the humidor is available for the storage of tobacco products. In this particular example, the reservoir chamber 14B is circular in cross section so that it may be conveniently fitted into the hole in the rim of the container portion 2. In this example, the opening 30B near the bottom of the sleeve 26B is formed of a group of perforations. Tlhis arrangement yadds further to the .security against leakage and yet permits adjustment of the rate of evaporation of the humectant liquid from the reservoir chamber. Also in this example, the collar 22B is substantially longer than the collar 22 or 22A shown in Figures 2 and 6, respectively, to provide a tighter seal with the Walls of the chamber 14B. It will be noted in this example that substantially the full length of the sleeve 22B fits snugly against the cylindrical walls of the chamber 14B thus assuring against any possibility of leakage. With the construction shown in Figure 9 the reservoir remains clean and free from dust particles over long periods of use, provides excellent control of the humidification of the interior of the humidor, and requires filling only three or four times per year. Moreover, the chamber 14B preferably is formed of clear plastic so that in order to check the supply of water in the reservoir it is only necessary to lift the entire unit from the humidor `and examine it visually. Moreover, because the reservoir 12B is not secured in any way to the humidor it can be readily removed from the humidor for filling, thus avoiding any possibility of spilling water within the humidor.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved humidor which may be readily supplied with water or other 'suitable Ihumectant and which will permit evaporation at `a readily controllable rate so that the condition of the tobacco may be kept optimum at all times. The Idevice can be constructed readily by conventional techniques from readily -available materials; the fabrication steps being sufficiently simple to retain the advantages of low production cost. This application is a continuation in part of U. S. application Serial No. 390,888, filed November 9, 1953, now patent No. 2,756,096.

I claim:

A tobacco humidor comprising a tobacco container having a side wall, a closed bottom and an open top, an outer wall surrounding said side wall and spaced therefrom and upper and lower walls connecting said side wall and said outer wall, a removable cover for said tobacco container having a top spaced vertically above said upper wall land a side flange aligned with said outer wall to form an air space above said tobacco container, a humectantsupplying reservoir located in the space between said side wall of said tobacco container and said outer Wall and opening into said air space and a valving device mounted within said reservoir for controlling the fiow of humectant from said reservoir into said air space; said valving device comprising a first tube extending into said reservoir and having a closed lower end and an open upper end communicating with said air space and an opening adjacent its lower end communicating with said reservoir, and a second tube longitudinally slidable in said first tube and having an open lower end and perforations aligned with said last mentioned opening in said `first tube in one position of said second tube and movable out of such alignment in another position of said second tube, said first tube having an air vent to establish communication between said reservoir and said air space when said second tube is in said second position :and means for destroying such communication when said second tube is in such first position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,800 Bollard May 15, 1900 975,091 Watrous Nov. 8, 1910 977,261 Bernstein Nov. 29, 1910 1,054,159 Wilson Feb. 25, 1913 1,514,564 Newcomer Nov. 4, 1924 2,051,777 Purinton et al Aug. 18, 1936 2,276,217 Lee Mar. l0, 1942 2,466,076 Bentley Apr. 5, 1949 2,671,707 Lombard Mar. 9, 1954 2,672,883 Dillman Mar. 23, 1954 

